20 COOL FOOD FACTS

 

1. Honey Never Spoils: Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible.

2. Apples Float: Apples are 25% air, which is why they float when placed in water.

3. Chocolate Was Once Currency: The ancient Maya used cocoa beans as currency.

4. Tomatoes Were Once Feared: In the 1700s, Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous because they belong to the nightshade family.

5. Bananas Are Berries: Botanically, bananas are berries, but strawberries are not.

6. Carrots Were Originally Purple: The first cultivated carrots were purple. The orange carrot was developed by Dutch growers in the 17th century.

7. Pineapples Grow From the Ground: Contrary to common belief, pineapples grow from the ground, not on trees.

8. Peppers Are Fruits: Bell peppers, jalapeños, and other peppers are actually fruits because they contain seeds and develop from the flowering part of plants.

9. Almonds Are Seeds: Almonds are not true nuts; they are seeds of the fruit of the almond tree.

10. White Chocolate Isn't Chocolate: White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa solids, so technically it’s not chocolate. It’s made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids.

11. Chewing Gum While Cutting Onions: Chewing gum while cutting onions can help reduce tears, as it prevents the sulfur compounds from affecting the eyes.

12. Cranberries Bounce: Fresh, ripe cranberries will bounce like rubber balls due to their air pockets.

13. Gelatin in Marshmallows: Marshmallows contain gelatin, which is derived from animal collagen, making them non-vegetarian.

14. Nutmeg Can Be Toxic: Consuming large amounts of nutmeg can cause hallucinations and other psychoactive effects due to the compound myristicin.

15. Pound Cake Got Its Name from Its Recipe: Traditional pound cake recipes called for a pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour.

16. Potatoes Were First Cultivated in Peru: Potatoes were first domesticated in the region of modern-day southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia.

17. Ice Cream Sundaes Were Created to Avoid Blue Laws: Sundaes were created because serving soda on Sundays was banned in some areas, so vendors sold ice cream with syrup instead of soda.

18. Figs Have Dead Wasps Inside: Many figs are pollinated by wasps, and sometimes the wasp dies inside the fruit. However, enzymes in the fig break down the insect.

19. Broccoli Contains More Protein Than Steak: Calorie for calorie, broccoli has more protein than steak, but you'd need to eat a lot more broccoli to get the same amount of protein.

20. Lobsters Used to Be Prison Food: In colonial America, lobsters were so plentiful they were considered food for the poor and prisoners.